Hibiscus Homicide (Maui Mayhem Cozy Mystery Book 4) Read online

  “Do those things fall off easily?” Pako asked.

  “That’s what’s bothering me.” I rubbed my chin. “Not likely if secured with a split ring. A jump ring, possibly, since that can more easily open up if snagged. Since the charm had a split ring, chances are it didn’t just fall off,” I answered.

  Then added teasingly, “Didn’t I give you the whole ‘split ring, jump ring’ lesson the first time?”

  “You never mentioned about the security of it. You went on and on about some other stuff that I’ve forgotten already.”

  I laughed. Yeah, it seemed I too had forgotten just what I said about all that. Oh, well, no matter.

  “Okay, I better get on with this,” I told Pako.

  I called out to Nani. It took only two shout-outs for her ghost to appear.

  “Hi Nani,” I said, pleased she had answered my summons.

  She smiled, but again, it wasn’t a happy smile. Just one acknowledging my greeting. Her face looked drawn and sad as it did the last time.

  “I have a few more questions to ask you.”

  Blank, lifeless eyes stared at me. She waited for me to continue.

  “Were you wearing your charm bracelet that day?”

  Nani nodded.

  I looked at Pako. He looked at me. We now knew that somebody removed her bracelet before the police got here.

  It wasn’t found with Kyle, so he didn’t do it, unless he got rid of it before killing himself (that is, if he did indeed commit suicide). But why would he care about the bracelet?

  Who else was there that day? Were they just a witness or did they have something to do with the deaths of either Kyle or Nani, or both, for that matter?

  Dang. This case was getting more complicated than closer to being solved.

  My attention went back to Nani. “Did you have a pink hibiscus charm?”

  She squinted. Was she puzzled by my question?

  “We found a pink hibiscus charm the last time we came here. Was it yours?”

  Why wasn’t she answering? She seemed to be pondering what I’d just asked.

  As though in slow motion, she shook her head.

  Huh? The charm wasn’t hers? Then whose the heck was it?

  My glance shot back to Pako. I shrugged. I was totally perplexed.

  “Ask her who was at the house besides her husband that day,” Pako said.

  “I think she heard you. Just cuz you can’t see her doesn’t meant she can’t hear you.”

  “Yeah, I keep forgetting that.” He hmphed.

  “Don’t worry. Sometimes I forget that too.” I smiled.

  Nani was already looking at me when my eyes met hers again.

  “Was there anybody else here besides you and Kyle?” I rephrased Pako’s question in a simpler way for her to answer. Pantomime should be the last resort.

  She nodded.

  I figured I might know the answer to that.

  “Was it your stepson?”

  Again, a nod.

  “Was he in the house at the time?”

  Her shoulders rose, then relaxed.

  “Nani doesn’t seem to know where Stevie was at the time of her murder. But he must’ve heard the gunshot if he was on the property,” I said to Pako.

  “The statement he gave was that he left the house before it happened.”

  “Just the house or the entire property?”

  “He just said ‘the house.’ We took it to mean the property. When I say ‘I left the house,’ I mean my property, so that’s how I assumed he meant it.”

  “Yeah, but you don’t live on an estate this size.”

  Even when I say ‘I left the house’ I mean my property, but somebody living on a few acres of land, leaving the house might still mean they’re roaming somewhere else on the estate.

  “Yeah, ain’t it a shame?” My detective friend smirked.

  I chuckled. Pako would have to win the lottery to buy property like this. His paycheck with Kim’s, wouldn’t be enough, even if it took them their lifetime to save.

  Elisse and Kyle Wilder inherited this estate from their parents, but although they were property rich, the Wilder siblings had to work to make their own money since the estate had none sustaining it.

  The property was handed down two generations, but there wasn’t a family business to go with it. That much I knew.

  I turned to address the ghost. “Nani, did anybody else visit?”

  She shook her head.

  I was out of questions.

  “Is there anything else we should ask her, Pako?”

  “Yeah, I have something to ask her.”

  “Just talk to her directly.”

  I could tell he felt weird having to speak to something he couldn’t see.

  “Has anybody come snooping around?” Pako said in the direction I had been posing my questions.

  “She indicates a ‘no’ on that,” I informed him.

  “Guess that’s it for now, then.” Pako knew as well as I that we weren’t going to learn anything more from Nani.

  I turned to the pretty apparition. “Thank you for helping us again, Nani.”

  She smiled, then evaporated into the air.

  “You wanna talk to the husband?” Pako asked me.

  “Nope. He was useless the last time. I don’t see that changing. No sense wasting our time.”

  “Okay.”

  As we walked out the door, Pako said, “We gotta make a stop.”

  “Don’t tell me.” I knew already. “Komoda Bakery.”

  “You know it.”

  Chapter 9

  “We have to find out who took Nani’s bracelet, Pako. That same person might be who put the hibiscus in her hair.” There were two people with the motive to do that. “I’m thinking it’s either her lover, Lane, or the stepson.”

  “Yeah, that sounds plausible. Unless another wahine (woman) wanted her bracelet, both those acts, especially the flower in the hair, would most likely be carried out by a guy crushin’ on her.”

  “I can tell you this, no woman in her right mind would take Nani’s bracelet. At least not with the intention of wearing it. Unless she was that lolo, wearing a murdered woman’s bracelet would implicate her in the crime.”

  However, in this world, there just might be someone that stupid or insane to do something like that. People have done crazier things. Like that bank robber who wrote the note, informing the teller to give him the cash, on his personal deposit slip. Aiya! What was he thinking?

  “Okay, so either the lover or the stepson has something to do with all this. So what are the possibilities? Here’s what I think ...”

  I had a feeling some of what he came up with was going to be what I figured too. We shall see.

  “Kyle Wilder killed his wife. While he was in the shed preparing to dispose of her body, somebody snuck up on him and knocked him out, thus the blunt force trauma to the back of the head. Then the perp sat him against the wall, took Wilder’s gun to his head and made it look like a suicide to cover their okole (butt).”

  That’s how I figured it. “Yeah. I just couldn’t buy the suicide bit. That version sounds more like what might’ve happened.”

  “Now we gotta find out which of the two suspects killed Kyle Wilder,” Pako said.

  “The pink hibiscus charm is still a puzzle piece missing its mark. Nani’s ghost seemed clueless about it, unless she’s playing dumb in case Lane gave it to her.”

  “What are you getting at?”

  “Well, what if Lane came over that day and after seeing Nani dead, killed Kyle out of rage. Then he took the bracelet since the charm he’d given her was on it. He wouldn’t want anything traced back to him.

  “Nani could’ve made us think she knew nothing of the charm, because she didn’t want to implicate her lover in Kyle’s murder.”

  There were so many possibilities.

  “Taking her bracelet would lead to suspicions which if he was a smart guy, would be stupid to do. Why wouldn’t he just remove the o
ne charm from it? Why take the whole thing?” Pako said.

  Yeah, there was that.

  “Where the heck does that dang hibiscus charm fit into all this, then? And if it wasn’t Nani’s, who did it belong to?”

  This was one of those hair-pulling moments.

  “Well, I doubt the perp, if male, wore a charm bracelet, so the charm might’ve belonged to another wahine.”

  Duh, Pako!

  “I’m getting a headache.” I rubbed my temples. “This case is mind-boggling.”

  “Could be the perp had an accomplice.”

  “If the perp is either Lane or Stevie, then I don’t know who Lane’s accomplice would be, but with Stevie, it would have to be his mother. Doubt he had a girlfriend since he was crushing on Nani.” I couldn’t think of any other women that would be in cahoots with either of those two.

  “How about your client? Kyle Wilder’s sister.”

  “You think she might be involved?” I gave this more thought. “I just don’t see it. At the memorial service, I didn’t notice any interaction between them that looked remotely as though they schemed something together. Her nephew seems more plausible.”

  “Or maybe she planned it and recruited the kid.”

  I was taken aback. “This crime didn’t seem to be premeditated to me.”

  More like a crime of passion in both instances. Kyle killed Nani after she asked for a divorce. Then either Lane unexpectedly stopped by or Stevie returned from wherever he went, found Nani murdered, then probably fell into a rage, suffering from a temporary moment of insanity, killing Kyle.

  Those scenarios sound the most plausible.

  If it were premeditated, then either the perps would’ve had to know that Kyle was going to kill Nani or it was a freaking coincidence, especially if they wanted Nani dead too. What were the odds of that?

  And if so, could Elisse have done this? Did she convince Stevie to help her, dangling the dollar signs in front of his eyes, knowing what half his inherited shares of the estate proceeds would be once she sold the property?

  I couldn’t believe he’d agree to kill Nani if he had a crush on her. That just didn’t make sense.

  I also didn’t want to believe that a client of mine could’ve done such a thing. The world was full of surprises though, so I should know by now that these things do happen.

  “Who are you interrogating next?” I asked Pako.

  “I’ll be contacting your client Elisse Wilder, then Lane Andres, Stevie Wilder and his mother, Theresa.”

  “I doubt she’s a Mother Theresa.” I chuckled.

  “Well, neither are you.” Pako’s eyes were glinting at me.

  “Gads, Pako. Did you not catch the joke?”

  “Yeah, I did. Didn’t you catch mine?” He laughed.

  “Ha-ha.” I overdramatized those words facetiously. “Anyway, I don’t proclaim to be a Mother Theresa.”

  “That’s good because you aren’t one.”

  “Okay, I got it! Sheesh!” I rolled my eyes. A grin followed though. “But remember you said that, the next time you need some saintly help from me.”

  “Yeah, I’ll try.” And of course he’d say that with a crooked lip.

  Okay, back to the main topic.

  “By the way, I’m going to pass on your meeting with Elisse when you schedule it.”

  “Really? Why?” I thought he’d be surprised.

  “She’s my client.”

  “That hasn’t stopped you before.” That was true.

  “This one’s different. I’m going to feel awkward, especially if she’s innocent and discloses all her family crap in front of me. Chances are she won’t feel comfortable about booking gigs in the future. She’ll be embarrassed having displayed her dirty underwear on my lawn. You know how that is?”

  “It’s ‘laundry,’ not ‘underwear,’ Pako corrected.

  “Same smell,” I replied.

  “You haven’t smelled my boxers and my shirts’ armpits. They have different smells after a hard day’s work.”

  “Oh my god, Pako. You did not just say that.” My jaw hung lower than imaginable. Maybe it got dislocated. “That is NOT the picture I care to envision. Ever!”

  I prayed he didn’t actually smell his dirty underwear before throwing them into the hamper.

  He laughed. “I’m just saying.”

  “You know what I meant. You know it’s just an expression. A slang.”

  “Yeah, but if I didn’t egg you on, I wouldn’t have this much fun with ya, now would I?” His grin widened in slo-mo.

  I shook my head, but let out a discreet laugh under my breath.

  “Umm, Pako?” I looked at him sheepishly.

  “Yeah?” His bushy eyebrows crimped inward.

  “I’m gonna confess something now because if I don’t, I’m going to feel guilty. Plus, you might have to bail me out if I get caught.”

  “Huh? You got a fetish with going around smellin’ other people’s underwear?” I sensed a moronic smile behind that straight face.

  “Oh, shut up. Anyway, I’m serious.”

  “What the hell are you talking about, Ging?” Okay, he’s finally gotten that this has nothing to do with smelly undies.

  “I’m going to look for that charm bracelet.”

  He lifted an eyebrow.

  “Just what does that mean?”

  Now he squinted.

  “It might involve illegal activity.” I tensed myself, awaiting Pako’s wrath.

  His face went from curious to fed up real fast.

  “Why the hell do you tell me stuff like this?” He lifted his arms, then dropped them.

  “Because you’re my friend, who happens to be a cop, and I just need to make sure that if something goes wrong you’ve got my back.”

  He rubbed his temples. I do believe I’ve given him a headache. He raked his fingers through his dark hair.

  “You’d better be joking, Ginger.”

  Oh, oh.

  “I’m afraid I’m not. How else are we going to find the damn bracelet?”

  “And what if they don’t have it? You gonna break into everybody’s house who’s currently a suspect?”

  “We gotta find that bracelet, Pako.”

  “So whose house you gonna break into first?”

  I tightened my lips.

  His eyes got bigger as if to say ‘Well, what’s your answer?’

  “I can’t tell you that. You might try to stop me.”

  “You’re damn right I’m gonna try and stop you. You probably should’ve just gone ahead and done it, then asked me for forgiveness later. I can’t let you go do something stupid like that. Not to mention, it’s against the law.” He pointed to himself. “And I’m a law enforcer. I might have to haul your okole in myself.”

  “Ah, c’mon, Pako. Turn your back on this for me.”

  “I thought you wanted me to watch your back. How can I do both?”

  Okay. Maybe being honest and upfront with him wasn’t such a good idea. Dang. I wish I didn’t have a conscience about bending the rules. Yup, blame it on my anal-retentive psyche.

  “And by the way, just how were you gonna break in?” Fisted knuckles now rested on his hips. The big guy’s body language spoke loud and clear.

  “Didn’t I tell you about Jemma’s moonlighting job?” I smiled with my full teeth exposed.

  Of course, I was joking about that. She’s never used it to commit a crime. At least I didn’t think she had. But you never can tell with Jemma. She’s not as inhibited about stuff like I am.

  Jemma’s burglary skills became public knowledge—well, at least to me and the poor victims—on that terrifying Big Island gig at that horse ranch where we both nearly got killed. I haven’t read an Agatha Christie novel since.

  “I don’t remember, but please spare me the details. I think it best I don’t know about it.” Pako wasn’t amused.

  But I was. “Up to you, but she’d come in handy should you ever lock yourself out of the house.” I laughed.


  “Ginger. Stop it. I said I don’t wanna hear it.”

  I waited for cupped hands to swoop over his ears any moment, ha-ha. But Pako didn’t do silly things like that.

  “Okay. Okay. Just don’t be surprised if you find both of us down at the station sometime this week, writing out our confessions.” My turn to have some fun with him.

  Unfortunately, I was serious. We needed to know who stole that charm bracelet. That piece of jewelry might lead us to cracking this case.

  “When I get enough evidence to prove that someone else killed Kyle Wilder, then I’ll get warrants to search for the missing bracelet.” Pako wanted to do this by the book.

  “How long would that take?” That was a rhetorical question because having been involved in numerous cases with Pako in the past, I knew it wasn’t going to be happening any time soon. “You know it can take months, and who knows, maybe you won’t ever get enough evidence to prove there was more here than met the eye.”

  “But that’s the way I do things. You know that.” He sighed. “Honestly, I wish you hadn’t told me what you’re planning to do. Now it’s gonna be freaking me out to know you’re out there breaking the law, or worse yet, putting yourself, and Jemma, in danger.”

  “It’s not like we’re going to break in while anybody’s home. I’ve got more sense than that.” What did he take me for? A dimwit? Of course he didn’t, but it sure sounded that way.

  On second thought, maybe I was a dimwit for even thinking I could pull this off. Hey, but I gotta try. That bracelet was a key puzzle piece.

  “What if the neighbors see you and call the police? I can’t give my department a heads-up, telling them that my harebrained friend is breaking in so she can help me with my case.”

  I laughed. “Why not?” Yeah, I was kidding.

  It was Pako’s turn to roll his eyes at me. “Wahines!”

  Yup. His favorite exclamation when he believes the females in his life have gone loco.

  Chapter 10

  Of course, I was all mouth and chickened out on this lamebrain idea of committing a felony. What was I thinking? Got a bit carried away there for a moment with this super-sleuthing gig, I guess.

  Even if Pako didn’t castigate me, I wouldn’t have gone through with it. Getting caught and all that goes with it—what it would do to my business, tarnishing my reputation and all—wouldn’t be worth it.